Shakeup in Senate Democrats. Mauro May Leave to Start Earning a Living. Would Work for Special Interests.

by Kevin Rennie

Democratic operative Vincent Mauro is contemplating leaving his job as doorkeeper to one-time reformer state Senator Martin Looney to lobby, Daily Ructions has learned. Mauro, who gained a reputation as grabby for donations and gifts from lobbyists and other members of the Capitol village, would work with Craig Leroy, a popular veteran lobbyist and Democrat who worked in the Rowland administration. State ethics rules will preclude Mauro from lobbying Democratic senators for a year after he leaves the Democratic caucus. That law would benefit from some broadening.

Mauro has gained some unhappy notoriety in July as one of the local Democratic town committee officials overseeing the failure to meeting a deadline to submit documents naming the New Haven Democrats’ endorsed slate for municipal elections. The blunder caused state Senator Toni Harp to have to hit the streets to collect petition signatures to get on the primary ballot.